C207 Alchemy Grand Ceremony

In the vast expanse of the Everlands, there were numerous alchemist sects, but none more revered than the Order of Healing. For millennia, the Order of Healing has been the ultimate pilgrimage for herbalists seeking to advance their craft. Despite the fierce competition from other sects with herbalists, none have been able to challenge the Order's esteemed position within the herbalist lineage. As a testament to their influence, the Order of Healing is responsible for establishing the ranking system for herbalists.

Thanks to the relationship between the Sacred Hands and the Order of Healing, the Sacred Hands of Aetherius are authorized to assess both common level and Spirit Level herbalists. The Order of Healing recognizes those who pass the Sacred Hands' rigorous testing.

One day, a vibrant crowd caught the eye of Yu Yuan. He noticed flames and herbs emblazoned on their chests, symbols of their proficiency and rank. Herbalists are categorized into five levels: common, Spirit, earthly, heavenly, and Divine, each further divided into nine sublevels.

After successfully passing the examinations conducted by the Sacred Hands and the Order of Healing, herbalists earn the right to display their unique emblem on their chest, signifying their legitimate status. For a common level herbalist, a single red flame represents the first level, while nine flames indicate a ninth level practitioner capable of concocting pills for cultivators in the Spirit Channel and Soul Awakening states.

At the Spirit Level, a herbalist's chest garment is adorned with the image of herbs. One herb signifies first level qualifications, and nine herbs denote a ninth level Spirit Level herbalist. Earthly level herbalists are identified by the depiction of actual pills, with nine pills signifying the ninth level of earthly proficiency.

The symbol for the heavenly level is a furnace, while the Divine Level is represented by the most distinctive emblem of all: the pill soul, a pill endowed with consciousness and soul.

In Aetherius, the Sacred Hands are empowered to test common and Spirit Level herbalists, subjecting them to extensive questioning about the medicinal properties of herbs, the precision of the refining fire, and the characteristics of the pills.

Ultimately, the quality of the pills crafted determines the rank of the herbalist.

Observing the men and women, each with the emblem of flames and herbs on their chests and clearly from various nations and factions, Yu Yuan quickly realized something. The Sacred Hands' evaluation of herbalists had either just concluded or was about to commence. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such a gathering of herbalists from different countries at the Serpent Spine Mountains.

"You mentioned fearing repercussions; what did you mean by that?" Bai Shenshen asked with surprise, eyeing Yu Yuan curiously. "Are you aware that the herbalist examination is soon to take place in the Serpent Spine Mountains? Don't tell me you also wish to participate? Is that why you crossed the Moonfall Sanctuary to come to the Sacred Hands specifically?"

She had jumped to a conclusion.

She assumed Yu Yuan was aware that the Sacred Hands would soon conduct the herbalist examination at the common and Spirit Levels.

"Yu Yuan, is it?" Bai Shenshen furrowed her brow slightly. "Considering you are the child of those two, I feel compelled to warn you: your Yu family... logically, shouldn't be able to produce a herbalist. I've heard that the Yu family is quite insignificant within the Silvermoon Empire."

The development of any herbalist requires vast amounts of spiritual herbs and plants. Indeed, herbalism is perhaps the most resource-intensive practice in the world.

Given Bai Shenshen's understanding, the Yu family lacked both distinguished herbalists and the necessary resources, making it virtually impossible for them to support the progression and training of a herbalist.

Within the entire Silvermoon Empire, it was only the Su family that went to great lengths to cultivate a number of herbalists.

"Yes, I've come to the Sacred Hands to give it a shot," Yu Yuan said, touching his nose with a spark of ingenuity. "I'd like to attempt the herbalist examination."

Bai Shenshen stared at him, wide-eyed as if seeing something extraordinary. "Do you realize that even to apply for the examination, you must pay with a soulstone?"

The Sacred Hands don't permit just anyone to undertake the herbalist examination.

For each herbalist examination, the Sacred Hands must prepare a variety of magic items, spiritual herbs, and even furnaces.

These services were not complimentary.

Many small families, even if they had one or two members interested in refining herbs with a modicum of skill, were deterred by the exorbitant registration fee charged by the Sacred Hands. Regardless of the outcome of the assessment, the soulstones paid for registration were non-refundable. If their herbal refining skills were insufficient, their soulstones would simply end up enriching the Sacred Hands.

"Soulstones, right?" Yu Yuan chuckled, pulling out a radiant crystal from a pouch at his waist, and asked, "Will this do?"

"Psicrystal!" Bai Shenshen's face drained of color.

"Psicrystal!"

"Wow! That guy actually has a Psicrystal!"

"It's really a Psicrystal!"

The herbalists from the various empires had their vision dazzle as Yu Yuan produced a Psicrystal. Upon closer inspection, they saw Yu Yuan's palm cradling what seemed like a luminous moon, its brilliance almost blinding.

A Psicrystal was a tier above a Soul Crystal, which in turn was superior to a soulstone. In both the Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence, Psicrystals were standard for cultivators, while in Aetherius, it was rare for even the most powerful to possess such high-purity Psicrystals.

Yu Yuan's unexpected display of a Psicrystal naturally drew everyone's gaze. In a moment, a crowd of both men and women surged towards him.

"Put it away!" Bai Shenshen cried out. Having known Yu Yuan's parents, she didn't want this naive young man to attract unnecessary trouble over a single Psicrystal. Besides, the Serpent Spine Mountains were rife with oddities and potentially teeming with all sorts of cultivators lurking in the shadows. A high-purity Psicrystal could very well spell doom for Yu Yuan.

"Is this enough?"

Yu Yuan looked at her with a wide grin.

"It's enough!" Bai Shenshen snapped, her face stern, "Quick, put it away!"

With that, the glow was swiftly concealed. Yu Yuan slipped the Psicrystal back into his waist pouch and only then did he truly survey the herbalists who had gathered from various nations. Most of these herbalists were quite young, with very few appearing to be over forty.

In the midst of the crowd stood a young man with a proud demeanor, his clothing adorned with seven herbs across the chest—a clear indication that he was a Spirit Level herbalist of the seventh level.

Unaffected by the commotion around him, he seemed to stand out, as if he were a crane among chickens. The Psicrystal that Yu Yuan had revealed appeared to be of little interest to him.

A faint sneer played across his face, suggesting he viewed the noisy companions around him as nothing more than unsophisticated country folk not fit for the limelight.

"The Sunblessed Empire's descendant of the King of Wraiths, that kid is Liu Zaihe. He's long been capable of refining Spirit Level seventh level pills," Bai Shenshen whispered, catching Yu Yuan's attention. "Liu Zaihe has caught the eye of the Order of Healing. Barring any unforeseen events, they'll likely take him with them once the assessments conclude."

Yu Yuan's expression darkened slightly. "So, the Order of Healing has sent someone?"

"They haven't arrived yet but are en route," Bai Shenshen replied in a hushed tone.

"Hehe, this is becoming increasingly intriguing," Yu Yuan remarked with a nod.

At that moment, from a great distance, the air was pierced by the ghastly wails of torment.

"It's those from the Binders of Shadows!" Bai Shenshen's face paled.

Yu Yuan remained stoic, offering no response.

Internally, however, a chill ran through him. "That artifact indeed owes some of its creation to the Binders of Shadows. Unfortunately for them, it's mine. Three hundred years from now, the Binders of Shadows can only dream of possessing it."

​